Theodore thomas



-(No Model.) T. THOMAS.

GAB. WHEEL.

210.292,26?. Parente-d Jam.- 22; 1884.

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NrrFD` STATES i PATENT Orme.

lrnnononn THOMAs, or NEW Yoan, N. Y.

CAR-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 292,267, dated January 22, 1884.

Application filed June 15, 1883. (No model.)

useful Improvement in Car-Vheels; and-I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

y and exact description of' the same, reference tial section on the`lines w w.

are sections on the lines x x and y y, respectbeing had tothe accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

The invention is designed to secure elastic qualities for the wheel and increased length of life for the tire, to deaden the sound, `and to increase the strength. and durability in use, and the simplicity in structure of the wheel as a whole; and it consists of the improved car-wheel hereinafter specically described and claimed. A

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a side view of the improvedrcarwheel, a portion being removed to show more clearly the interior structure, showing a par- Figs. 2 and 3 ively.

Like letters of reference in the severa-l figures represent like parts.

radial metal walls.

The improved car-Wheel consists of a metal casting, A, forming the hub and web portion of the wheel, a steel-tire portion, B, an intervening series of blocks, C C, of some suitable elastic substance, and securing-bolts binding all portions of the wheel together. Ihe casting A may be made in any usual way. It is essential, however, that it should have an annular series of recesses or pockets on its circumference, slightly wedge-shaped, opening Outward, and separated from each other by These metal walls are radial projections of the casting A, and are marked a a in the drawings. The sides of the recesses are formed by the side plates, b and c, of the casting A, and the bottom bythe web or wall d of the casting A. This webor wall d may be placed at any suitable depth. The side plate, b, extends outward to within clearing distance of the internal diameter or" the tire B, while the plate c is of such diameter as to clear the internal flange, e, of the tire. The blocks C 0,0f wood, prepared paper, or oth-er material of sufficient strength, durability, and elasticity, having been prepared of suitable size and shape, are forced into the recesses in ing the blocks in toward the center, to get a very solid and firm seat for them all down the sides of the radial projections, and this with out the necessity of very acourateitting of the blocks to the recesses, as the wedge-shaped blocks lind a firm seating when drivenLfar enough. i By shrinking or forcing the tire on the blocks that have already been seated in these wedge-shaped recesses 'I obtain a very solid and substantial wheel. The radial arms are numerous enough, and the recesses correspondingly slight in their convergence toward the center to hold the wedge-shaped blocks firmly in place. This mode of Vsupporting the blocks in these slightly -diverging recesses gives a more elastic. and durable wheel. I

The steel tire B has an internal flange, c, which flange, when the tire is in position, bears laterally its A entire depth against the sides of the blocks C C without touching the sides of the walls or radial projections a a, and is flush on the outside with the plate c, as shown. The blocks C C, which project outward slightly beyond the parts a a of the center casting, A, are turned, to admit of the tire B being forced or shrunkon them, by which forcing or shrinking the said blocks are firmlyA seated in the recesses, but in such a way that the blocks C G form the substantial and only connection between the center casting, A, and the tire Bin the direction of the'load, the side plates, b and c, of the center casting, A, being left just free of the adjacent portions of the tire, and the radial walls c a being also free of' the tire, as shown. A series of bolts, D D, passing through the internal flange, e, of the tire, and the radial walls a a, andthe plate b of the central casting, A, securely holds the different parts of the wheel together.

I do not wish to confine myself to the particular system lot' flanges 4and of connectingbolts shown in the drawings,whereby the central and outer portions of the wheel are secured together. I prefer, however, the' form shown in the drawings, for with the arrangement there shown the pressure of the tireflange proper on the track-rail in operation tends to consolidate and strengthen the wheel as a whole, and by passing the system of bolts through the metal portions of the wheel only, in contradistinction to passing them through such portions, and also through the wood or paper or other iilling, a more durable Wheel is obtained.

I am aware that Wood, paper, &c., have been used in car-Wheels to carry the load; but my arrangement of this cushioning material in a series of small Wedge-shaped recesses forming, When the tire is added, a substantial covering and protection for the cushioning material on all' sides, produces a simple Wheel to manufacture, because the wedge-shapedv pieces of cushioning material need not be accurately fitted, for, being driven Ain, they will sonicl Where reach a iirm seat, which can only be strengthened and consolidated by the shrinking or forcing on of the tire. My arrangement, also enabling me to securely bolt the tire and central portions of the wheel together Without passing bolts through any portion of the cushioning material, is, I believe, new in this class of wheels.

Vhat I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As a new article of manuihcture, a ear wheel consisting of a central portion having a series of wedge-shaped peripheral recesses,

formed by side plates and by numerous radial cross-arms converging but slightly toward the center, as shown, in combination with a tire portion, and between the two a series of separated and independent blocks of Wood, paper, or similar material, seated in the Wedgeshaped recesses, as shown, to carry the entire load, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a carwheel consisting ofthe center portion, A, having side plates, b and c, and numerous radial arms, a a, a series of blocks, C C, of Wood, paper, or other suitable material, and a tire p0rtion, B, al1 suitably connected, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a car- Wheel consist-ing of a center portion, A, having side plates, b and c, and radial arms a a, a series of blocks, C C, of wood, paper, or other suitable material, a tire portion, B, having a flange, e, and securing-bolts D D, passing through metallic port-ions of the wheel only, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

THEODORE THOMAS. Witnesses:

\V. H. KEXYON, J'. PHELAN. 

